These sort of weekly updates have been really image laden. I’m going to cut it down because I know that sometimes it can take ages to load and be really slow

There was a Christmas party at work, last week Thursday, which was pretty fun. It was my first Christmas party, as well, and despite knowing people in the office it was still nerve-wracking. There was a proper sit down dinner which included turkey with all the trimmings. There was also a raffle in which the main prize was an iPad mini. Sadly, I didn’t win anything.

There was live music down in the studios, as well as a cinema room. Plus a free bar! Overall, it was an enjoyable night and I got to meet a few more people who work in the studios which was good. I filmed a few seconds of two bands which you can see here and here. They were pretty good

I was at the PR agency, MediaVision, again on Friday and I got given two bottles of Sour Cherry Juice Drink from Melia. There were loads of bottles lying around, so Jodie let me take some home. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do with them but who passes up free stuff? Anyway, I went onto the Melia website and they have loads of recipes you can use their juice drinks with and I found a recipe for ice cream! So, on Saturday, my sister and I attempted to make some cherry ice cream. It turned out okay, although I think I overdosed on the cream part I’m not too sure. If you want, you can check out the recipe here. It’s called ‘Organic Sour Cherry Ice Cream’.

Also on Saturday, I went to the London South Bank Christmas Market with a friend which was really good. It was busy because it was a Saturday and there were so many stalls selling food, ornaments and general stuff. Right at the bottom was a book market as well, which made me jump with glee. I actually finished my Christmas shopping as well, my Lola 1 being the last person I had to buy for. I bought her a little ornament display which was a teapot and tea cups which had Swarovski elements in it. It’s really cute and pretty.

I also got my German sausage that I’ve been craving for a good few weeks. It had a bacon filling… Heaven

Then we went to go see The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. Holy. Fucking. Shit. I seriously have no words. It was amazing. The whole film I was sitting there nervous as fuck because so much was happening and I just couldn’t. My heart was beating so fast D: I definitely would go see it again if I have time.

On Monday, I met up with my friends for our Secret Santa exchange. My friend loved her gift which I’m pleased with and my secret Santa obviously knows me really well. To be fair, everyone knows that I am the biggest fan of Doctor Who so her gift was spot on. She got me a 2014 50th Doctor Who Calendar, Doctor Who chocolate which comes with a sticker of the 11th Doctor, Doctor Who ice cube tray and also a set of Minion pencils with rubber tops. It was Doctor Who-rific with a splash of Despicable Me. I nearly screamed my head off at the dinner table, haha.

My friend also sent me a Doctor Who book as my Christmas present which is comprised of 11 stories, 1 story for each Doctor. I can’t wait to get stuck in.

Doctor Who! Your Secret Santa was a great gift-giver, then. And I don’t have any presents yet from anyone, but I know I have some gift exchanges with friends this weekend so we’ll see what happens then. I might need to go eat some good food now after seeing that yummy sausage…

Christmas markets sounds like fun and the recipe for the cherry ice cream sounds great. My sister and I just bought a couple of kilos fresh cherries from a farmer’s market and we’re not entirely sure what to do with them.

The Christmas party sounded like a lot of fun! I also got to see The Hobbit and I really liked it as well! The barrel scene was my favorite scene and Benedict Cumberbatch did a great job with Smaug. And it’s great that you got a Doctor Who gift! It’s always nice when your Secret Santa knows you really well, haha.

The Hobbit is really good, I recommend it! I would say it’s more like a ~children’s book compared to the Lord of the Ring books. OH and have you heard about the latest Tolkien book that came out? I haven’t read it yet but I was like, wow a new Tolkien book??

And thank you! For both the encouragement and the comment about the theme haha

Thank you for the plugin recommendation! Can’t wait to try it out I haven’t read any Tolkien books (shame on me) and did try to read LOTR when I was in primary school but it just didn’t work out. I was a Harry Potter gal, back then. Haha.

You’re welcome~! You should try reading Tolkien! He does read as a little “old” if that makes any sense… but his books are good! And no worries. I was a Harry Potter gal as well (also in elementary school haha). I only got into reading Tolkien when I entered college. I definitely don’t think I would have enjoyed them, if I had read them around the same time I started my first Harry Potter book, haha.

For all my years in London, I haven’t actually been to the Christmas market. I think it’s because I’m just so busy with everything and don’t have time to go there. I also prefer to go in the summer. I hate crowds! I ‘ve only been to the little market near the Natural History Museum and the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park (which has sort of a market…nice food).

A few people have told me that the Hobbit 2 was much better than the first one. Again, waiting for the bloody crowds to die down before watching it!

Sounds like your holidays have been a lot of fun already! A Christmas party, receiving some presents and giving them too (those Despicable Me pencils are SOOO cute!), good times, huh?

Before I emigrated to Oregon, I used to visit a bunch of Christmas markets in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium before Christmas, and the South Bank one sounds like a lot of fun so I’m definitely going to have to remember that when I go to Europe during the holiday season! Book markets always make me happy too. New books, used books, I don’t care! As long as I can buy (and get ;-) ) books.

Our Christmas fun is about to commence tomorrow, really. I don’t have all of my presents for my husband in yet, but we’ve got everything for my in-laws and I’m praying to whomever will listen up there that my final pressie will be in tomorrow. That’d be excellent!

I want to go see The Desolation of Smaug SO BADLY. If all goes well, we’ll be able to go sometime by the end of this week. We would’ve gone last week, but the theaters were all sold out (hardly surprising since it’s only been in theaters for such a short time) and so we went to see Catching Fire instead. Have you seen that too?

You should definitely visit the South Bank one if you come to London for Christmas It was my first time going and it was much fun. They also have Christmas markets up in Birmingham, as well, and a lot more around London.

I hope you final present came in time! And did you manage to watch the Hobbit yet? Catching Fire was SO good! Definitely a step up from the first movie, and keep quite close to the book, too, which I’m glad of

It seems as if you have been having both a fun and happy holiday season so far. The gifts that you’ve received are both cute and thoughtful. I’ve never participated in a Secret Santa exchange before…but I’m glad to hear that your part went well.

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Welcome

Chynna Webley

Foodie, Writer, Blogger

Hi! My name is Chynna, blogger of this little space on the internet. Here you will find everything from endless rants about life to travel and recipes. I am passionate about food, creative writing and television. Endless amounts of television.